Initial clinical experience with a miniature biplane transesophageal echocardiographic probe in adults

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is now routinely used in cardiovascular medicine. With improved technology the size of TEE probes has increased. Recently there has been interest in using smaller probes for adult TEE. We used a miniature 32-element, phased array biplane probe in 20 consecutive adults who underwent clinically indicated TEE evaluation. The miniature biplane probe was easily inserted without complication in all patients including one with thrombocytopenia and one with an esophageal stricture. Subjectively the probe was easier to insert and better tolerated by patients than standard adult TEE probes. High quality images of near-, mid-, and far-field structures were obtained in a majority of patients. Color Doppler identified mitral regurgitation in 12 (60%) patients, tricuspid regurgitation in ten (50%) patients, and aortic insufficiency in five (25%) patients. The miniature biplane TEE probe used in this study enhanced patient comfort without significant loss of image quality.